M&E Projects Engineer

Job Description & Requirements
Electrical and Mechanical Engineers design, develop, and maintain systems and components, with Electrical Engineers focusing on electrical power and circuits, while Mechanical Engineers focus on mechanical systems and machines.

Mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) engineers help to plan, design and manage these three critical systems in buildings. As an MEP engineer, you play a key role in the construction process, ensuring that buildings have the facilities that make them habitable and functional. Learning about how to become an MEP engineer and understanding the duties and responsibilities of the role can help you decide whether it's an ideal career for you. In this article, we answer the question What is an MEP engineer, discuss their duties and outline how to become one.

Mechanical engineering
MEP engineers design and create the technical specifications for the mechanical systems of a building, including the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. These systems help keep the interior of buildings cool and liveable regardless of the season. In large buildings, they can also design, install and maintain exhaust, chilled water and direct digital control systems.The MEP engineer's blueprints help balance construction, maintenance and operational costs while optimising energy efficiency, sustainability and serviceability. With these technical specifications, other construction experts can make correct estimations, choose the right quality and standard HVAC equipment and ensure compliance with building codes.Related: What Does a Mechanical Engineer Do (With Duties and Types)

Electrical engineering
An MEP engineer is responsible for designing and specifying electrical systems, including lighting, power distributions and fire alarms. They may also plan and design onsite power generation requirements and distribution and lightning protection and critical power systems. These engineers create comprehensive system designs that help electrical technicians calculate the number of cables necessary for a building, determine the specifications of the lighting fixtures and power distribution systems and know the ideal placement of fixtures in the building for optimal functionality and efficiency.